Satan's Slave (1976) Michael Gough, Martin Potter, Candace Glendenning, Barbara Kellerman Movie Review

Satan's Slave (1976)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Candace Glendenning and Michael Gough in Satan's Slave (1976)

He Lives in a Very Big House in the Country

Catherine Yorke (Candace Glendenning) and her parents are off to the countryside to spend some time with her uncle Alexander (Michael Gough) and cousin Stephen (Martin Potter). But it doesn't start well when having got lost they are involved in a curious and tragic car accident with a tree which leaves both of Catherine's parents dead. But things get even more curious whilst Catherine stays in the large house of her uncle as it seems she may be there for ulterior reasons which put her in danger especially as she doesn't know who she can trust when it comes to her uncle, cousin and the secretary who works there.

"Satan's Slave" starts with nudity which is followed by some 70s style gore and then it tries to spin a bit of story before more nudity and 70s violence/gore shows up. That bit of story revolves around a bit of satan worship in the countryside, the sort of thing where goat masks are worn, fires are burned as are witches and if a scene features an attractive woman in a free flowing outfit the chances are she will end up with her kit off.

Martin Potter in Satan's Slave (1976)

Now in fairness that typical storyline in "Satan's Slave" comes with a slab of mystery which is more the point than some of the other stuff. What I mean is that we are meant to be not only kept entertained by the usual nudity and fake blood but also the situation of who can young Catherine trust when it comes to her uncle, cousin and the secretary who works for uncle Alexander whilst also pondering why Catherine has visions of the past such as seeing a witch stripped naked and burnt to death.

But for all "Satan's Slave" wants to be one thing is certain, it is inferior to other movies of the period. It tries with Michael Gough leading the way with what feels like an attempt at a Christopher Lee style performance. But at its heart this movie only ever feels like a British attempt at doing exploitation with the nudity and 70s style violence but never quite nailing it.

What this all boils down to is that "Satan's Slave" may have entertained audiences back in 1976 but now it not only feels generic and struggles to come across as anything more than an excuse for some nudity and horror violence.


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